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Tag: Dasuki

  • Why Dasuki is still in detention- Magu

    Why Dasuki is still in detention- Magu

     Dasuki is being detained in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which gives the prosecution the powers to apply to the court for extension of detention period.
    “At times in the course of interrogation, some facts do come up that would require further investigation. We don’t detain people unnecessarily”.
    The EFCC will focus on prevention of corruption, there was need for the understanding that “change must begin with us”, adding that there is a link between corruption and the country’s present economic challenges.
    The EFCC is determined to ensure an enabling environment.
    Judiciary is key to the fight against corruption therefore must ensure the elimination of unnecessary bottlenecks in the trial of suspects.
    Details later…
  • Fayose to Buhari: release Kanu, Dasuki

    Fayose to Buhari: release Kanu, Dasuki

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to unconditionally release former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu from prison custody.
    In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, Fayose admonished Buhari to reciprocate the mercy of God upon his life by also showering mercy on his fellow citizens.
    Fayose said: “You have received the mercy and favour of God. You have come back from medical vacation alive. By what people had said and by your own account, it is the mercy and favour of God that have seen you through as well as the prayers of everyone.
    “It is incumbent on you to now also show mercy. I advise you to show mercy to Nnamdi Kanu and Sambo Dasuki and such other Nigerians that are suffering unjust, punitive, illegal, and unconstitutional incarceration under your directive or administration.
    “Allow all those who have been granted bail by the court to enjoy their bail while their trial continues. This is the right, just, and merciful thing to do.”

  • Fayose paid Ozekhome N75m from Dasuki loot, says EFCC

    Fayose paid Ozekhome N75m from Dasuki loot, says EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked Justice Abdulaziz Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to reject Chief Mike Ozekhome’s bid to unfreeze his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, which has a balance of N75 million.

    The EFCC claimed the money, which was paid to Ozekhome as legal fee by Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, was part of the N2.26 billion arms procurement fund, which a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.), allegedly looted.

    It said Dasuki routed N1.22 billion of the N2.26 billion to Fayose through a former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro.The commission stated this yesterday in a counter-affidavit it filed in opposition to Ozekhome’s application.

    Justice Anka froze the account on February 7, following an ex-parte application from the EFCC claiming the N75 million deposited into the account on December 15, was suspected to be proceeds of crime.

    He ordered Ozekhome to forfeit the money for 120 days pending investigation by the EFCC.

    Ozekhome is the counsel to Fayose, whose account was frozen by the EFCC for alleged money laundering.

    But the lawyer approached the court, saying the EFCC misrepresented facts to obtain the order and urged Justice Anka to lift the order.

    The SAN contended that the EFCC’s action was unconstitutional, had no legal justification and was a gross violation of sections 36, 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution.

    But in yesterday’s counter-affidavit deposed to by EFCC counsel, Idris Mohammed, the commission stated that after Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos placed a temporary restriction on Fayose’s account, the governor, through Ozekhome, went before Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court to obtain an order to unfreeze the account.

    The prosecutor said even though Fayose was aware the commission immediately appealed Justice Taiwo’s ruling, the governor went ahead to dissipate part of the contentious funds, paying N75 million to Ozekhome, who helped him to secure Justice Taiwo’s unfreezing order.

    The EFCC claimed Ozekhome ought to have “reasonably known that the N75 million was transferred to him” from Fayose’s account, which the EFCC claimed was used to retain proceeds of crime and alleged kick-backs from some contractors in Ekiti State.

    It urged Justice Anka not to unfreeze Ozekhome’s account.

    Justice Anka adjourned till March 7, for hearing.

  • Court refuses Metuh’s request to invite Dasuki as witness

    Court refuses Metuh’s request to invite Dasuki as witness

    Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday dismissed an application by former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh for an order inviting ex- National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, to appear in court as a defence witness for him.

    The judge also refused another application by Metuh for permission to travel to London for two months on medical ground.

    In the first ruling on the application to call Dasuki, the judge said it was not the business of the court to compel a witness to court on behalf of a party.

    He said it was wrong for Metuh to ask the court to compel Dasuki to testify in his favour when he had not first applied to the agency detaining the ex-NSA to allow him attend court.

    Justice Abang said: “Except a witness is a compellable witness, it is not the duty of the court to compel any person, either in civil or criminal case, to come to court ýto give evidence on behalf of a party. Therefore, it is not mandatory that once a subpoena is filed, it must be signed at all cost.

    “It is my view that Col. Dasuki (rtd) is not a compellable witness to attend court to give evidence for thýe first defendant. As such, it is not mandatory for the court to sign the subpoena to compel his attendance in court.”

    “I have gone through the affidavit in support of the application, there is nothing to show that application was first made to the authorities keeping Dasuki to come to court and such application was rejected by the appropriate authorities.

      “The first defendant, in my humble view, cannot come to court ýpraying the court to sign subpoena without requesting the appropriate authorities keeping Dasuki to release him for the purpose of Dasuki giving evidence on his behalf.,” the judge said.

    In rejecting the application for leave to travel abroad, Justice Abang said: “From the facts deposed to by the applicant in the affidavit in support of the application, it seems to me that the applicant has not been healed of the ailment that he claimed afflicted him on the date the earlier was delivered till this moment.

    “If the applicant was not satisfied with the earlier ruling, why did he fail to appeal to the Court of Appeal? Why did the applicant come to this court with a similar application while the earlier decision is still subsisting?

    “The first defendant should not create problems for the court. The instant application is similar to a situation where a person wants to get water from the rock,” the judge said

    Unhappy about the judge’s pronouncements, Metuh’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), accused Justice Abang of exhibiting bias against his client.

    The lawyer said the judge had no basis to dismiss application seeking to summon Dasuki, especially because it was not opposed by the prosecution.

    Ikpeazu, who argued that the ruling amounted to a denial of fair hearing to his client, said the judge’s allegation that Metuh was trying to delay the case was not true.

    He said the defence had lost confidence in the court and urged the judge to disqualify himself from further presiding over the case.

     Prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir faulted Ikpeazu’s allegation of bias against the judge.

  • Metuh asks judge to withdraw from trial

    Metuh asks judge to withdraw from trial

    The former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisah Metuh, on Thursday asked Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to disqualify himself from continuing with his trial.

    Metuh, who made an oral application through his counsel, Mr. Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), said he no longer has confidence in the court presided over by Abang.

    The application followed the court’s refusal to grant two applications filed by Metuh, one praying the court to summon the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki by way of a subpoena to testify as witness.

    The other application, the court refused was one praying it to release Metuh’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Abang said the court had in May 2016 refused Metuh’s application for the release of the passport and wondered why a similar application was brought before the court.

    ” The defendant ought to have appealed the earlier ruling. This is not a sentimental or sympathetic issue. It is purely an issue of law. The applicant should not create problems for the court,” Abang said.

    While refusing the application to summon Dasuki for lacking in merit and substance, the court held that Dasuki was not a compellable witness in the trial.

    According to Abang, there is no record before the court to prove that the defendant has made any effort to approach the authority holding Dasuki to ask for his release.

    The judge said, “It is not the duty of the court to compel anyone to come and give evidence in court when that person is not a compellable witness.

    “The name of Dasuki was not included in the list of witnesses filed by the defendants. The question is, at what stage did the defendant make up his mind to include Dasuki’s name in its lists of witnesses?”

    NAN

  • Dasuki: Court rules on witnesses’ protection in March

    Dasuki: Court rules on witnesses’ protection in March

    THE Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 1 to rule on a fresh application by the Federal Government, seeking to protect witnesses in the trial of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
    The application, dated January 23 and filed on January 24, was argued by counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi, who prayed the court to allow witnesses use acronyms instead of their real names.
    He said the prosecution wanted the witnesses to be known to the public by acronym such as “xyz” and that only the court would know the true identity and name of each witness.
    Okpeseyi told the court it was the understanding of the prosecution that the defence would not object to the application.
    He said the prosecution was, however, surprised in court on Tuesday when the defence, led by Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), served him with a counter-motion objecting to the application for protection of witnesses.
    Okpeseyi prayed the court for a short adjournment to study the counter-motion, saying it was voluminous and had to be studied carefully before replying.
    Raji said he was not opposing the application for an adjournment.
    “The motion was brought to us late on Thursday and we prepared our counter-affidavit and served on them only this morning. So, we will not object to the adjournment sought by Okpeseyi to enable him respond.”
    Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the matter till March 1 for hearing.
    Dasuki, in this case, is facing charges of unlawful possession of fire arms preferred against him by the Department of State Security (DSS).
    The case was previously before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, but following his arrest by the DSS, he said he would no longer handle any matter involving the service, hence its transfer to Justice Mohammed.
    The application for witness protection was brought before Ademola, but he refused the application, saying there was nothing to hide since the names of the witnesses were already on the internet.

  • Dasuki: Court rules on FG’s fresh application for witnesses’ protection

    Dasuki: Court rules on FG’s fresh application for witnesses’ protection

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed March 1 to rule on a fresh application by the Federal Government seeking to protect witnesses in the ongoing trial of former National Security Adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dasuki.

    The application dated Jan.23, and filed on Jan. 24 was argued by counsel to the Federal Government, Mr Dipo Okpeseyi, who  prayed the court to allow the witnesses use acronyms instead of their real names.

    He said that the prosecution wanted the witnesses to be known to the public by acronyms such as “xyz” and that only the court would know the true identity and name of each witness.

    Okpeseyi further told the court that it was the understanding of the prosecution that the defence would not object to the application.

    He said the prosecution was, however, surprised in court on Tuesday when the defence, led by Mr Ahmed Raji (SAN), served him with a counter-motion objecting to the application for protection of witnesses.

    Okpeseyi prayed the court for a short adjournment to study the counter-motion, saying it was voluminous and had to be studied carefully before replying.

    Raji said that he was not opposing the application for an adjournment.

    “The motion was brought to us late on Thursday and we prepared our counter-affidavit and served on them only this morning, so we will not object to the adjournment sought by Okpeseyi to enable him respond.”

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned the matter till March 1 for hearing.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dasuki in this case, is facing charges of unlawful possession of fire arms preferred against him by the Department of State Security (DSS)

    NAN further reports that the case was previously before Justice Adeniyi Ademola, but following his arrest by the DSS, he said he would no longer handle any matter involving the service, hence its transfer to Justice Mohammed.

    The application for witness protection was brought before Ademola, but he refused the application, saying that there was nothing to hide since the names of the witnesses were already on the internet.(NAN)

  • Dasuki: How ONSA funds were diverted – Witness

    Dasuki: How ONSA funds were diverted – Witness

    The prosecution on Wednesday opened its case in the trial of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and others by calling its first witness, who gave details on how public funds were allegedly transferred unlawfully to private firms.

    The witness, Adariku Michael, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said investigation revealed how funds were transferred from the account of the Office of the NSA (ONSA) in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to some banks.

    The witness said he knew about the case through information he received from the ONSA on September 22, 2015, “alleging abuse of office and money laundering.”

    Dasuki and few others which included an ex-director with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, former Director of Finance, ONSA, Salisu Shuaibu, and two firms – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital – are being prosecuted by the Federal Government over their alleged involvement in the diversion N32b public funds.

    Led in evidence by lead prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Adariku also told the court how investigators discovered the private companies into which funds from ONSA were transferred.

    The witness said: “When we received the report, we moved into action immediately same day we got the report. We wrote a letter of investigation activity to the Central Bank of Nigeria for us to confirm the allegation regarding the moment of funds from accounts of ONSA to various companies.

    “On September 22, 2015, we received a response from the CBN and analysed same. Our analysis showed movement of funds to various companies some of which includes Arcacia Holdings Limited.

    “Our findings showed that Arcacia has two accounts, one in UBA and another with Ecobank. We found out that Arcacia account with UBA received the sum of N600million from ONSA account in CBN, while the 2nd account with Ecobank got N650million.

    “After the analysis, we wrote to CBN to furnish us with account statements of these companies.

    “We wrote to UBA, Ecobank and First Bank in respect of Arcacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital.

    “We also wrote to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to get the status of those companies.  When we got the CAC response, we equally analysed that.”

  • Alleged diversion of N13b arms fund: Dasuki, Bafarawa, others re-arraigned

    Alleged diversion of N13b arms fund: Dasuki, Bafarawa, others re-arraigned

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki, ex-Governor of Sokoto State Attahiru Bafarawa and four others were re-arraigned yesterday before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama over their alleged involvement in the diversion of N13 billion meant to buy arms for the military.
    Others are Sagir (Bafarawa’s son), a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, an ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda and a firm linked to Sagir – Dalhatu Investment.
    They were earlier arraigned on the same charge before another judge of the court, Justice Peter Affen.
    Their re-arraignment before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf yesterday was informed by the transfer of the case to Justice Yusuf’s court.
    Another case on related issue involving Dasuki and some other set of people is also pending before Justice Yusuf.
    Both cases are now to be tried by the same judge.
    Yesterday, Dasuki was brought to court from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS), where he is being held since his arrest in 2015.
    Dasuki and others pleaded not guilty to the 22-count charge when it was read to them yesterday.
    The charge was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    They are charged with criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and misappropriation of about N13 billion.
    After the defendants pleaded to the charge, defence lawyers, including Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
    Raji, who represented Dasuki, urged the judge to re-affirm the bail with respect to his client for the purpose of restating it to the DSS that has refused to release his client despite meeting the bail conditions.
    Lead prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) opposed Raji’s application, arguing that it was unnecessary.
    In a ruling, Justice Yusuf noted that he had earlier ruled that the EFCC was not in disobedience of the court orders granting bail to Dasuki, as the ex-NSA was being held by another agency, which was not involved in the case.
    He granted the defence lawyers’ request that the defendants be allowed to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.
    The judge adjourned to February 24 for the beginning of trial.

  • How’ll trial of Saraki, Dasuki, judges, others end

    How’ll trial of Saraki, Dasuki, judges, others end

    The courts are expected to be busy this year. In his New Year’s speech, President Muhammadu Buhari restated his administration’s commitment to fight corruption. Several high-profile cases are in court. Will they be concluded this year? ERIC IKHILAE, ADEBISI ONANUGA, JOSEPH JIBUEZE and ROBERT EGBE highlight some of the cases which are of public interest.

    FOR the courts, 2016 ended on a busy note. There was a deluge of high-profile criminal cases because of the Federal Government’s resolve to prosecute suspected corrupt public officers. Hearing in the cases continues this year. How will they end?

    In his New Year’s speech, President Muhammadu Buhari vowed not to relent in his fight against corruption.

    He said: “Our determination to wrestle corruption to the ground remains unshaken. This fight, which will be guided by respect for the rule of law and due process, will not spare anybody or organ of government.

    “It is a collective undertaking and resolve that must be seen to its logical conclusion in spite of certain distractions. The fate of our country lies partly in the success of this campaign. It will be unthinkable on my part to allow the boat of this crucial campaign promise to capsize mid-stream.”

    Some of the impending cases are:

     

    Saraki’s trial at CCT

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will resume proceedings in the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki on January 11. He is facing a 13-count charge of false assets declaration. The case has witnessed  various delays since the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) filed the charge on September 14, 2015.

    Though Saraki took his plea on September 22, 2015, the prosecution has been unable to move beyond calling its first witness. After months of delays, with Saraki challenging almost every step taken by the tribunal, its jurisdiction and the composition, trial eventually commenced last April 5 with the prosecution calling its first witness, Michael Wetkas.

    The prosecution wasted no time as Wetkas concluded his evidence-in-chief on April 18 (within three adjournments). But it took the defence 14 adjournments, spanning over seven months to cross-examine the first prosecution witness.

    The defence team, comprising of senior lawyers like Kanu Agabi (SAN), Joseph Daudu (SAN), Paul Erokoro (SAN), Paul Usoro (SAN), Mahmud Magaji (SAN), among others, cross-examined Wetkas between April 18 and November 8, last year.

    When the defence announced its conclusion of what the prosecution counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) described as the longest cross-examination in the history of the nation’s criminal jurisprudence, the tribunal also stunned all when it adjourned further proceedings from November 8 to January 11.

     

    Judges in the dock

    Legal fireworks are expected to commence when proceedings open early this year in the cases involving Justice Sylvester Ngwuta (of the Supreme Court), Justice Adeniyi Ademola (of the Federal High Court) and his wife, Olabolwale

    Justice Ngwuta was arraigned before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja on November 21 on a 16-count charge bordering on allegations of corrupt enrichment, violations of money laundering laws, passport fraud and attempt to obstruct justice. The prosecution is expected to open its case on January 18.

    Justice Ademola and his wife, Olabowale were arraigned last December 13 before Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama on an 11-count charge of conspiracy and receipt of gratification. The case has been adjourned to January 18 for the commencement of trial.

     

    Dasuki and others

    Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, is currently facing three charges. In the first case, he is charged with money laundering and illegal possession of firearms. The former NSA was arraigned on the charge before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja on September 1, 2015.

    Proceedings in the case is expected to commence afresh before another judge at the resumption of the Federal High Court this month. This is because Justice Ademola is being tried for alleged corrupt practices.

    In another charge, Dasuki was arraigned with ex-Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, a former Director of Finance at the office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former governor of Sokoto state, Attahiru Bafarawa, his son, Sagir Bafarawa and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited for allegedly stealing about N9.2billion from the office of the NSA.

    Both charges are now pending before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The prosecution is expected to open its case when proceedings resumes on January 25.

     

     Oronsaye and others

    The former Head of Service of the Federation (HOS), Stephen Oransanye is being tried in two separate courts on two charges. He is standing trial alone before Justice Olasumbo Goodlcuk of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He was arraigned on March 15, 2016.

    Oronsaye, who was the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Financial Action Task Force (PCFATF) under President Goodluck Jonathan, is among others charged with criminal breach of trust for allegedly converting about N382.9million belonging to the PCFATF to his personal use while he headed it between 2013 and 2015.

    He is expected to open his defence or make a no-case submission when proceedings resume mid-January.

     

     Metuh

    The former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh is facing trial in two courts. He is being tried with his company, Destra Investments Ltd, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a seven-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/05/2016

    They were charged with breach of trust, corruption and money laundering, offences contrary to section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.

    They were arraigned last January 15. He is expected to continue with his defence when proceedings resume before Justice Abang early this year.

     

    Badeh and his predecessor

    Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Alex Badeh is standing trial with a firm, Iyalikam Nigeria Limited on a 10-count charge marked: marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/46/2016, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja

    They are charged with breach of trust and corruption. Badeh was said to have committed the offences while serving as the Chief of Air Staff in 2013.

    There is also the case involving Badeh’s predecessor, Air Chief Marshal Mohammed Diko Umar (rtd), who is being tried on a seven-count charge of corruption involving about N7.382billion. It alleged that Umar removed the money from the account of the Nigerian Air Force while he was the Chief of Air Staff.

     

     Ex-governors

    Former Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako is standing trial with his son, Senator Abdulaziz Nyako, two of his ex-aides, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifikk Abba; and five companies – Blue Opal Nigeria Limited, Serore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Towers Assets Management Limited and Crust Energy Limited.

    They were arraigned on July 8, 2015 on a 37-count charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/293/2015, before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 37- count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

    The case has since been reassigned to Justice Okon Abang with the death in mid-2016 of Justice Chukwu. Trial has started before the judge, with the prosecution calling a number of witnesses.

    Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, is being tried on a 27-count charge of money laundering, abuse of public office and receiving N1.35 billion kick-back from a government contractor. The money was allegedly paid into accounts controlled by the governor and his sons

    Trial had progressed before Justice Adeniyi Ademola until the judge’s arrest and consequent prosecution. The case is expected to be assigned to another judge.

    The trial of former Plateau State Governor, Joshua Dariye will resume before Justice Olubukola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Gudu this month. He is expected to continue with his defence.

    Trial is expected to resume in the case involving former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam and the state’s ex-Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia after some delays. They were arraigned before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of Federal High Court, Abuja on November 10, 2015 on charges of money laundering and breach of trust.

    Former Governor of Taraba State, Reverend Jolly Nyame is expected to open his defence at the resumption of the court in January. He is being tried before Justice Bukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu.

    Nyame is charged with “criminal breach of trust,” punishable under Section 315 315 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and “mmisappropriation of public funds,” punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code.

    Trial is expected to commence afresh before a new judge when the Federal High Court resumes business in January in the case involving former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim.

    He is to open his defence before Justice Adeniyi Ademola when the judge was arrested and is currently being prosecuted for corruption related offences.

    Ohakim was arraigned on July 8, 2015 on a three-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty. He is accused of making a cash payment to the tune of $2, 290,000.00 (about N270,000,-000.00) , for the purchase of a property at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

    The amount is above the threshold approved for an individual going by the provisions of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.

     

    Kalu

    The EFCC re-arraigned former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu at the Federal High Court in Lagos along with Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited on 34 counts of diverting N3.2billion Abia funds. They were first re-arraigned on September 27 before Justice Anwuri Chikere of the court’s Abuja division after the case got to the Supreme Court on interlocutory appeal following Kalu’s first arraignment in 2007. Kalu and his co-accused allegedly diverted about N3.2billion from the Abia’s treasury while he was the governor.

    The trial will resume on March 6 before Justice Idris.

     

    Ladoja

    Eight years after he was first arraigned, former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja, was re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly converting N4.7billion from the state treasury to his personal use. The EFCC charged him along with Waheed Akanbi before Justice Mohammed Idris on eight counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

     

     Ex-ministers

    Former Minister of Interior, Abba Patrick Moro and others are being tried on an 11-count charge before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Fedeeral High Court, Abuja. They are being prosecuted in respect of the botched March 15, 2014 National Immigration Services (NIS) recruitment exercise, were charged with obtaining money by false pretences, procurement fraud and money laundering.

    They are accused of defrauding 675, 675 graduate applicants of about N675,675,000 having been made to pay N1000 each as processing fees for 5,000 (five thousand) job openings.

    The prosecution is expected to continue its case when the court resumes in January.

    The prosecution is also expected to call more witnesses in the trial of former Defence Minister and Chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Mohamed Bello was arraigned with his son, Abba and a company, Bam Projects and Properties.

    They were arraigned on January 5, 2016 on a four-count charge of money laundering before Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

    Bello, his son and BAM are, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/389/2015ý, accused of receiving N300m from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Mohammed Dasuki on March 17, 2015 for political campaign under pretext that it was meant for a housing project named “Safe Houses”.

     

    Patience Jonathan

    Wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience, has claimed the money in the companies’ accounts is hers. She is praying the court to unfreeze the accounts to enable her have access to her funds. The case comes up before Mohammed Idris on January 18.

    In late November, other accounts belonging to her, with about N9billion, were frozen by Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola. The case is also expected to make headlines this year.

    A case that will also attract attention when a date is fixed for hearing is the one filed by the first lady’s supporters against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on her alleged $15million.

    The suit was filed at the Federal High Court by the Union of Niger Delta Youth Organisation for Equity, Justice and Good Governance, which sued for themselves and on behalf of Mrs Jonathan.

    The plaintiffs claimed that the organisation is using online, print and electronic media to publish unfounded and malicious allegations that she allegedly stole $15m (US) and ought to be prosecuted.

     

    SERAP’s suit on budget

    padding

    The suit filed by SERAP asking the court to compel EFCC to investigate and prosecute the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and others over budget padding, will generate public concern when hearing commences in the matter in the new year.

     

    Fani-Kayode/Nenadi Usman

    Trial of former Aviation Minister Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and former Minister of State for Finance  Senator Nenadi Usman will resume on January 16 before Justice Muslim Hassan of the Federal High Court in Lagos. They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 17-count charge of laundering about N4.6billion. They pleaded not guilty.

     

    Ex-NIMASA chiefs

    Four former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) workers were charged for corruption-related offences. One of them, Temisan Omatseye, was convicted for contract splitting and is on appeal after being granted a post-conviction bail. His appeal will come up for hearing this year.

    The trial of another former NIMASA Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is facing over five separate fraud and theft charges both at the Federal High Court and Lagos State High court, is expected to be concluded this year.

     

    Tompolo

    A former Niger Delta militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo) was arraigned in absentia in no fewer than two charges along with Akpobolokemi.

    EFCC, on March 22, arraigned Tompolo in absentia over N34billion fraud after he failed to turn up despite being declared wanted. He was said to be “at large”. EFCC, in the 40-count charge before Justice Ibrahim Buba, said they allegedly diverted N34 billion for personal use, adding that the money accrued from the public private partnership agreement between NIMASA and Global West Vessel Specialist, said to be owned by Tompolo.  Other charges of stealing, advanced fee fraud and money laundering involving about N22.7billion are still pending against Tompolo before Justice Buba.

    The case will come up on Junuary 30 before Justice Buba.

     

    Adegboruwa

    The EFCC arraigned activist-lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa at the Federal High Court for allegedly dealing in a seized property. The commission said Adegboruwa and Jonathan Udeagbala, said to be at large, allegedly conspired on August 13, 2013 to lease a property at House 105, NICON Town Estate, Lekki, which EFCC said was a “subject of interim orders of attachment made by Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos State High Court” on June 18, 2012. But, On September 22, Justice Ayisat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court vacated the interim order of forfeiture.

    The case is adjourned to January 31.

     

    Amosu

    The EFCC arraigned a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd) on June 29 along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo at the Federal High Court in Lagos. EFCC accused them and some companies of converting N21billion from the Nigeria Air Force on March 5, 2014 in Lagos. They pleaded not guilty. The trial will resume on January 25.

     

    Dudafa

    The trial of a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Waripamo Dudafa, will resume before Justice Babs Kuewumi on January 23. He was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged money laundering. He is facing two separate charges. In the case before Justice Kuewumi, he was arraigned with some companies, which pleaded guilty on September 15 to laundering $15,591,700 (about N5billion).

     

    NAMA MD

    Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Managing Director/Chief Executive Ibrahim Abdulsalam was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos on April 7 for allegedly stealing N2.8billion. He was arraigned along with Nnamdi Udoh (said to be at large), Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Ayodele Adegorite, Randville Invesment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd on 21-count charge. They pleaded not guilty.

     

    Titi Abubakar

    Also in the news was the case by EFCC on how Mrs Aminat Titi Abubakar, wife of former Nigeria’s Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was defrauded of N918 million by some business partners including a former governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom State, Nsikakabasi Akpan Jacobs before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. The EFCC arraigned Jacobs, Abdulmalik Ibrahim and Dana Motors on a 15-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of properties belong to THA Shipping Maritime Services Limited, a firm in which she had vested interest.

     

    Fred Ajudua

    The trial of a Lagos socialite and lawyer, Fred Ajudua who allegedly duped former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Ishaya Bamaiyi right inside Kirikiri Prisons made headlines throughout  the year and will continue to make headlines next year. Ajudua is scheduled to be re-arraigned for allegedly defrauding General Bamaiyi of $1 million. He is to face a fresh 28-count charge before the court presided by Justice Josephine Oyefeso.

     

    Rickey Tarfa

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Rickey Tarfa, was arraigned for alleged obstruction of justice. The EFCC said he prevented the arrest of his clients who are suspects in another matter. He was also accused of bribing a judge, an allegation he denied.

     

    Ofili-Ajumogobia/Obla

    The trial of Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court will resume on January 9.  The EFCC accused her of collecting N5million gratification from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Godwin Obla.

    She and Obla were arraigned on a 30-count charge at the Lagos High Court for allegedly conspiring to pervert the course of justice last May 21. EFCC said Obla transferred N5million to Nigel & Colive Ltd, a company the judge is a sole signatory to. The judge and Obla pleaded not guilty.